Connector for wrist watches



April 1951 K. c. AUGENSTEIN 2,549,410

CONNECTOR FOR WRIST WATCHES iled Aug. 18, 1948 fzzaezzior ywkjw Patented Apr. 17, 1951 ooNNEotron FOR WR IST WATCHES Karl C. Augenstein, Cranston, R. I., assignor to. Speidel Corporation, Providence, R. I., a corporation of Rhode Island;

Application August 18, 1948, Serial No. 44,901

Bracelets are usually attached to a wrist watch 'or the like article by a metal loop, the design of which usually does not harmonize with either that of the bracelet or of the watch. In order to overcome the objectional appearance thus created, handmade coupling members (sometimes referred to as cocktail end connectors), designed to harmonize with the design of a selected watch or bracelet are provided, but such coupling members are not only expensive, but furthermore their design and construction do not permit use with the more conventional types of wrist watches and bracelets.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a connector which is capable of use with conventional wrist watches andbrace- -lets and which may be designed. to present an attractive appearance in harmony with any of the more conventional types of wrist watches and bracelets; and to provide a reliable connector which is of simple but durable construction, having a minimum number'of parts, which is easy and convenient to operate, and which can be economically manufactured and sold at popular prices.

Further objects irelate to various features of construction and will be apparent from a consideration of the following description andthe accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged plan view of my" improved connector and the associated end links of an expansible bracelet;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the connector with the latch in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the connector, showing the latch in open position;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the connector with a part of the bottom wall of the shell broken away;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary bottom View showing the latch in partially open position; and.

Fig. 6 is a detail of the latch-locking spring member.

In accordance with the present invention my improved connector comprises a shell which may be V-, U- or Y-shaped, or otherwise formed to provide a bifurcated end portion, one leg of which pivotally supports a latch member so as to swing toward and away from the other leg. The two legs diverge at an angle to provide a space which receives the end of the coupling element associated or integral with a wrist watch 3 Claims. (01. 24-232) or the like so that the latch member may be inserted in the. opening therein or otherwise connected thereto, and the opposite end of the connector is provided with suitable means by which it may be attached to the end of a bracelet. Within the bifurcated portion is a spring member, preferably U-shaped, which is anchored at one end so that its free end extends along one of the legs of the bifurcated portion and projects through an opening therein to engage and releasably hold the latch member in closed position. The free end of the spring member is preferably so constructed and arranged that it is normally concealed from view when the article is being worn, but accessible so that it may be. depressed or manipulated either by a finger .nail, a pin, or other element to release the latch.

Where, as is preferred, the connector comprises a generally Y-shaped shell, its exposed surface may be so shaped and embellished as to harmonize both with a selected design of wrist watch and bracelet, the flare or angle of divergence of the leg bein such as to embrace the adjacent parts of a wrist watch or the like to produce a pleasing appearance.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the embodiment shown therein comprises a connector C which couples one end of a wrist watch (notshownfto the end link of an expansible bracelet of the' type shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,267,967 granted to me December 30, 1941. The connector C comprises a generally Y-shaped shell which provides a bifurcated portion or legs I and 2, and at its opposite end a leg 3, the exterior of the shell being embossed or otherwise ornamented to conform with the design or ornamentation of the links of the bracelet B (Fig. 1).

The bottom wall 4 of the shell is formed adjacent to its extremities with openings 5, 6 and l, the opening 5 receiving a pintle or the like member providing a pivotal connection with the end link of the bracelet B (Fig. 1), and the opening 6 receiving a rivet 8 which pivotally connects a latch ID to the leg 2 of the shell so that it may be swung from open position (Fig. 3) to a closed position (Figs. 1 and 2). The end of the latch I0 is formed with a square-shaped recess ll (Fig. 5) which aligns with the square-shaped opening 1 in the leg I, as shown in Fig. 4, when the latch is in closed position.

Mounted within the bifurcated portion of the connector is a generally U-shaped resilient member of spring l2 (Fig. 6) formed at one end with a laterally extending ear I4 provided with an opening [5, and at its opposite end with a depending lug I6 adapted loosely to fit the recess II of the latch Ill. The outer end of the lug I6 is bent to provide a finger piece I8 by means of which the spring may be flexed as hereinafter pointed out. One leg of the spring I2 extends within the leg 2 of the shell so that the rivet 8 extends through the opening I5 to anchor the spring in position, and the other leg of the spring extends within the leg I of the shell so that the depending lug I6 projects through the opening 'I, as shown in Figs. 3 to 5. V g

The free end portion of the inner edge of the latch I0 is formed with a curved surface or cam element 20, the construction and arrangement of parts being such that this cam element 20 is engageable with the depending lug I6 to swing or flex it outwardly, after which the lug I6 snaps into the recess I I to lock the latch ID in position. When in locked position, the finger piece I8 is juxtaposed to the end of the latch I0 and" the bottom wall '4 of the shell, as shown in Figs.- 2 and 4, and hence may readily be manipulated to effect the release of the latch by being pressed outwardly so as to flex the spring sufficiently to disengage the lug I6 from the recessed end of the latch I0. Since thefinger piece is juxtaposed to the bottom wall 4, it is normally concealed from view When the bracelet is worn about the wrist in the usual manner, but nevertheless is readily accessible for operation in the manner above described.

While I have shown and described one desirable embodiment of the invention, it"is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various changes andmodifications may be made without'departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

open and close said space, and a generally U- shaped spring within said shell having one of its arms extending longitudinally within the firstmentioned leg and its other arm extending with- 'in and secured to the pivotal connection" for said latch, the free end portion of the first-mentioned arm carrying a lug which projects outwardly through said latch opening so as to engage and releasably lock the end of said latch member when swung to closed position.

2. A bracelet connector comprising an ornamental shell having a pair of hollow divergent legs defining a space for the reception of a coupling element, the free end portion of one of said legs having a latch opening, a latch member pivotally connected to the free end portion of the other of said legs so as to swing toward and away from said latch opening, thereby to open and close said space, and a resilient spring member mounted at one end within said shell so that its free end portion extends longitudinally through the first-mentioned leg, the free end portion of's'aid spring carrying a lug which projects outwardly through said latch opening so as to engage and releasably lock the end of said latchmember when" swung to closed position, the outwardly projecting part of said lug being bent to provide a finger piece by means of which said spring can be flexed to release-saidlatch.

3. A bracelet connector comprising an ornamental shell having spaced hollow legs providing a housing anddefining a space for the reception of a'coupling element, the tree end portionof one of said legs having a latch'opening, a latch =member pivotally connected to the free end portion of'the other of said legs'so as 'to' swing toward and away from said latch opening, thereby to open'and'close said space, and-latch-locking "means within said housing, includinga movable locking member having a free'end portion normally positioned to engage and releasably lock the 'free end "of said "latch member when in closed position, said locking member having apart which projects outwardly beyond said housing to provide'afingerpiece by' means of which said looking member maybe moved from locking position, thereby to release said latch.

KARL C. AUGENSTEIN.

-R'EFER'ENCES CITED The following references are of record-mine "file of this patent:

- UNITED STATES PATENTS 

